More Evidence of a Declining Old Europe. The Wall Street Journal today reported on the "Consumer Reports preview of 2005 cars" and said that among the "least reliable" on the preview are the German cars, the BMW 5 Series and 7 Series and the Mercedes S Class and E Class. On the list for "less than average reliability", the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and New Beatle. I take no pleasure in passing this on. A strong and confident Germany is good for the US, even if they don't always agree with us.